Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Permanent Secretary Subeta Mutelo has urged Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Cooperatives and Associations to take advantage of the 500 million kwacha allocated for SMEs in the 2025 national budget.
Ms. Mutelo explained that the 500 million kwacha allocated in the 2025 national budget is meant to support the growth of SMEs.
She stressed that the government is committed to creating a conducive environment that supports the thriving of SMEs, Associations and Cooperatives in the country.
Ms. Mutelo indicated that government is doing everything possible to ensure that SMEs succeed in their respective business endeavours.
She highlighted that government is using the enhanced Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and various loan schemes offered under the Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) to empower SMEs and Cooperative access to affordable loans.
Ms. Mutelo said the desire of government is for the SMEs, Cooperatives and Associations to thrive and drive the growth of the country’s economy.
She said government fully recognizes the crucial role that SMEs and Cooperatives play in driving the economy, hence its efforts to create a conducive environment for SMEs and Cooperatives to thrive.
Ms. Mutelo called for concerted efforts in addressing challenges facing the SMEs sector such as access to finance and markets.
The Permanent Secretary said this when she officially opened a stakeholder’s consultative engagement meeting at Mulungushi International Conference centre.
Ms. Mutelo encouraged SMEs, Associations and Cooperatives to collaborate closely with the government through the Ministry of SMEs.
However, Ms. Mutelo expressed concern that no Medium business has graduated to a large-scale enterprise in the last three years.
And speaking at the same stakeholder’s engagement meeting Zambia National Marketeers Credit Association (ZANAMCA) president Mupila Kameya called for increased collaboration between government and SMEs.
Mr Kameya lamented that the lack of collaboration has resulted in the SMEs not fully benefiting from well-intended government programmes targeting the SMEs sector.
